I agree with steve, just fly the snot out of your "practice" ship. I try not to fly the "good" one too much cause I will break it(explains why I am always monokoting on the way to a contest).
Find someone you take constructive criticism well from, doesn't matter if they are better than you are not. Its easier to see where you messed up if your not flying the plane(scott and I do it all the time). Why don't you come fly with us once in a while or we'll come fly with you, just tell us where.
But, again, Steve said it best, just practice maneuvers......in any order and get to know the planes limits and what you can get away with.
Something else that really helps me "learn a plane" is throw different props on and fly a whole tank of fuel with a prop you hate. You'll be surprised how much you learn about how the plane "flys".
Bomb drop is a good warm up too. No matter how much you nail this at home, you will screw it up and another field, but do it anyway just for the routine.
John Florio Touch and goes is a great rhythm builder if you have a prothero or other high wing .40-.60 size funfly plane. Which is important for most NCFFA events.....IMHO