In order to learn optimally, you have to understand how your memory works. I provided wikipedia links in red to the most relevant concepts just to prove I'm not bullshytting. And just off rip: rote memorization is quite possibly the single worst encoding technique imaginable. Using spaced repetition is only SLIGHTLY better, but still extremely far from optimal.
im in algebra I we just started polynomials
Fundamentally, learning is encoding sensory information that you want to retain. Your brain forgets almost everything that enters from your senses unless it has a reason to store it. The things that are stored the best in long term memory are the things that are heavily encoded.
Encoding is done by creating relationships between concepts. You're basically creating a network of information using logical connections between ideas. Your working memory has a limitation where it is only capable of holding a small amount of information. This is called the 7 plus/minus 2 problem. You overcome this problem by using chunking. Keeping chunks within the 7+-2 zone keeps information manageable within your working memory. If you're violating this law in your encoded structure, you need to decompose the information further or use something like a mnemonic device to help store it.
You know you're doing it right when you have moderate to high levels of cognitive load. Learning necessarily must be energy intensive in order to make your brain retain it. A lot of people think that if they simply "sense" the information (ie: they read the words or hear a teacher saying words) then their brain will automatically make sense of it and store that information later for retrieval. But that isn't guaranteed. The information has to be organized to begin with. You must sit down and encode the information in what amounts to a "mental structure" (you can write/draw it out first; I actually recommend doing that). Once you have done this using as many logical connections as possible, your brain is significantly less likely to forget it and you use the mental structure to help you produce answers in your problem domain. Then all that's left to be done is rehearsal of your encoded mental structure. If there are any computer science brehs out there, a quick way to think of this is as a data structure for the mind.
There is a lot more to it, such as Bloom's Taxonomy, Kolb's Experiential learning, zone of proximal development, depth of processing, and more. But it's all understandable.
I've thought about making a learning megathread here on thecoli but I figured it would flop lol. This is all off the dome, so if people are interested, I may organize it better and make the thread.
Here are the two best youtube videos on the subject I've seen thus far (best watched in order):
