UPDATE: never mind, setting the parts I want to study in the global study settings and studying a single list solved my problem. The rest is just whining :)

Hi,

This must be a common question but I can't find an answer.

I am taking a class, so would like to primarily study vocabulary from the textbook:
http://www.skritter.com/vocab/list?list=564352896

I am short on time so I want to focus on readings and meanings.

I have a huge Skritter backlog of 4000 items from past studies, but I won't catch up anytime soon.

What should I do to only study the new textbook (at least until I am caught up with the class vocabulary)?

Here's my problem:

I told Skritter to only add from that one list. And I can ask Skritter to only study that list. But if I switch to only readings and definitions, Skritter stops adding new words. It seems I can only review if I don't study all four (writing, tone, reading, definition).

UPDATE: My bad, I think the problem was that I was making the what-parts-to-study change at the list level. If I do it at the global level:
http://www.skritter.com/account/settings-study
then I can add words while only studying reading and definitions. D'oh!

I know it's best to let the SRS algorithm decide what I study and what I review, but that's not working for me at the moment.

In fact it gives me an oppressive feeling, like I'm doing it wrong. If I chose to learn a bunch of new stuff, Skritter should let me do that. Instead it passive-aggressively intimates, "First do all your reviews, you lousy student. Maybe later you can learn new things. But probably you'll never get there. You're too lazy and your brain is too small. See? 4000 items! Get to work."

But probably I am doing it wrong, in addition to being paranoid :)

k

Have you tried the "Save me" feature? It sounds like you're the intended target for that feature. It's in Home>My Words, on the left side.