Learning to read / write music.. Any Suggestions?

As a piano teacher, I try to make sure my students at least learn common patterns and such that are evident in many songs, however much they like or dislike a song. Of course, it could be very different now since you are no longer a child, so try to spot patterns like solid and broken chords and such to avoid having to deeply analyze particular sections of a piece over and over again, note by note.

Perhaps that way of thinking is too analytical or sloppy but it does save time. I learned the formal way but picked up patterns without my teachers ever telling me explicitly. It's just something gained through learning all the key signatures and such, which is another handy tip.

At the very least, if you can read basic sheet music, ingrain into your head what note is what on paper, if you haven't done so already. From there, it's just repeated exposure and it'll become second nature after enough time, and you can continually challenge yourself further.

Jam it back in, in the dark.