How to maintain your pitch when looking for other traffic in the pattern?
When starting out as a pilot you are normally overwhelmed by all the tasks you need to do. Most of these tasks become second nature with time and experience. Here are some tips you could try. 

Make sure the aircraft is trimmed correctly for the manoeuvre so that you do no need any force on the controls to keep the aircraft straight and level. Sometimes you can create your own turbulence because you did not trim correctly but then fight the controls. 

Listen to the air noise. You could easily pick up from the change of air noise if the aircraft is loosing or gaining airspeed. A ten degrees pitch change will cause an airspeed change you will pick up by ear. Remember you are flying VFR so looking outside at the horizon to judge your pitch is very important. Flying the correct power setting and maintaining the correct pitch will help you a lot in flying because the aircraft will settle at a certain speed all by itself.

Maybe schedule your flying lessons when the air is more stable and turbulence is minimum. As you gain experience you will be able to handle the turbulence better.

Also try another instructor. Maybe another instructor might be able to understand your weakness and strengths better and handle the situation differently.

Ask many opinions from other pilots in the area. You will find that there are more than one technique sometimes. Just find the one that works for you.