My 2ps worth:
1) Tell your instructor you want him to do the R/T until you're more confident with your basic flying skills. R/T empties your brain at the start.
2) I had the same problem at the same stage learning eg, power on/off stalls. It helped me to think about what you're actually trying to achieve with those exercises. I originally saw it as do a, then b, then c, d etc and couldn't remember which bits related to power on and which to power off. When I realised what we were doing was simulating an entry into stall just after takeoff or a low airspeed* stall on finals it made it much easier to do the Hasell checks, then put the aircraft in the correct config & airspeed for what we were practicing - then try and get the stall warner buzzing.
3) I'd also suggest more than one hour a week.
My personal experience was that hours 5-20 were easily the hardest and least enjoyable (apart from the Air Law exam of course
). It does get easier and better.
* Yes I know - I'm trying to keep things simple.