As Aero, fly the aircraft in your head over and over until all your checks become second nature. Make sure you include everything, from power settings, look out, radio calls, after take off checks, down wind checks etc etc.
Write it down to make sure you haven't forgotten anything then picture the circuit as you fly it and physically carry out the actions so don't just say look out, actually turn your head left right and left again, reach for the throttle and look at where the tach would be and do the same for the mixture, fuel cock, fuel pump, landing light etc etc. (try looking through google images for a picture of the instrument panel to help you)
If you can't do it in the arm chair without thinking and without hesitation then reschedule your next lesson until you can, it wont magically come to you in the aircraft. Flying from the arm chair is the cheapest lesson you'll ever have but possibly the most valuable.
Personally i'd wouldn't deligate any tasks to the intructor, you're the commander, it may take the load off temporarily but you've got to be able to handle it, learning to do circuits without radio then with radio is an expensive way to do it. You should know your radio calls before getting in the aircraft and you should also know what responses to expect. If not ask your instructor or borrow a transeiver, write them all down and include them in you arm chair sorties.
(btw it's quite normal to have a bad flight every now and then when you are learning this probably wont be the last)
Last edited by ChrisLKKB; 7th Sep 2008 at 14:23.