JSS2 First Term English Scheme of Work (2025/2026)

English Studies holds a central place in the Nigerian junior secondary school curriculum, and its relevance extends across all academic fields. English serves as the primary language of instruction in Nigerian schools. As students move from JSS1 to JSS2, the subject takes on deeper elements that go beyond basic language skills. At this stage, learners must not only understand English but also apply it confidently in writing, speaking, and comprehension tasks. The Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for JSS2 First Term, developed by the Lagos State Ministry of Education and aligned with NERDC (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council) standards, outlines a clear academic structure. This scheme addresses the intellectual, linguistic, and social development of junior secondary learners. Moreover, it ensures students revise core concepts from JSS1 and progress steadily across five major English components: Speech Work (oral communication), Grammar, Comprehension, Composition (writing), and Literature.

To achieve this, the scheme divides the First Term into a 12-week academic roadmap. Each week includes clear objectives, learning activities, and assessment plans. Teachers follow a logical sequence, beginning with foundational topics like sentence construction and pronunciation before advancing to more complex tasks such as essay writing and literary analysis. In doing so, they reinforce prior knowledge while introducing new concepts. This steady academic flow strengthens students’ accuracy and fluency in language use. Additionally, the scheme emphasizes real-life communication by helping learners understand English through practical applications, including letter writing, storytelling, reading comprehension, and classroom discussions.

In Speech Work, educators guide students in mastering correct stress, intonation, pronunciation of vowel and consonant sounds, and rhythm in spoken English. These skills are crucial, particularly for Nigerian students who often speak English as a second language and may carry over native language patterns. Teachers use tools like audio materials, pronunciation drills, and interactive speaking exercises to boost students’ confidence. As a result, learners gain communication skills that prove useful not only in examinations but also in real-world situations, such as presentations and interviews.

In Grammar, teachers cover essential topics throughout the First Term. These include tense agreement, subject-verb concord, active and passive voice, question tags, and reported speech. Educators introduce grammar in relatable ways by using real-life contexts, class discussions, and student-led activities. For example, a teacher might use storytelling or conversations to demonstrate the shift from direct to indirect speech. Once students grasp grammar concepts, they build stronger sentences, which improves their comprehension and writing skills.

When teaching Composition, teachers lead students through various forms of writing, including narrative and descriptive essays. They show learners how to brainstorm ideas, outline main points, write coherent paragraphs, and revise drafts for clarity and accuracy. Teachers often incorporate peer reviews and group activities to make writing more collaborative and engaging. These exercises help students develop creativity and critical thinking. For instance, they may write about school memories or describe familiar places. In turn, these tasks reinforce grammar and vocabulary, while promoting writing fluency.

Reading Comprehension also receives significant attention during the term. Teachers assign passages of different genres, narrative, descriptive, or expository, and ask questions that go beyond basic recall. Students learn to identify key ideas, draw inferences, interpret word meanings in context, and understand author intent. To support this, teachers introduce the SPQ3R method: Survey, Question, Predict, Read, Recite, and Review. This reading strategy turns students into active readers, improves comprehension, and builds study habits that benefit them in other subjects, such as Basic Science and Social Studies.

In Literature, students encounter poems, short stories, and drama texts, often rooted in Nigerian and African culture. Teachers guide learners in exploring the characters, settings, and themes embedded in these works. In many cases, the texts convey values such as honesty, courage, respect, and social change. Through storytelling and role play, educators engage students and promote cultural awareness and empathy. This also helps students interpret texts more deeply while expanding their vocabulary and imagination.

For teachers, the Lagos State Unified Scheme serves as a week-by-week planning resource. It outlines learning objectives, teaching tools, and assessment options. This structure helps teachers stay focused and ensure each lesson meets its goal. To make classes engaging, educators are encouraged to use visual aids, charts, digital media, and picture books. Regular assessments, including oral presentations, quizzes, and take-home assignments, allow teachers to track student performance and make instructional adjustments when needed. Furthermore, the scheme provides flexibility, enabling teachers to adapt lessons to students’ varying needs.

At home, parents support their children’s learning in valuable ways. By staying informed about weekly topics, parents can help with vocabulary practice, oversee homework, and motivate writing tasks. For example, they can ask children to read aloud or narrate a short story. These practices, when repeated regularly, reinforce classroom learning and support language development.

Students at the JSS2 level are at a transitional stage. They are not only improving their command of English but are also becoming more responsible learners. By actively participating in lessons and following the scheme, they enhance their speaking, writing, and thinking abilities. Strong performance in English Studies also leads to better outcomes in other subjects, given that English is the foundation for all learning in school.

This article provides a week-by-week breakdown of the JSS2 English Studies First Term Scheme of Work. It is a practical tool for students to prepare in advance, for teachers to structure lessons effectively, and for parents to monitor progress and provide support.

First Term Scheme of Work Table for JSS2 English Studies

Why the English Scheme of Work Is Important

The JSS2 English Studies First Term Scheme of Work plays a critical role in shaping students’ academic development by offering a detailed and structured roadmap for learning. One of its main strengths lies in how it reinforces core language skills, such as grammar, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and essay writing. These components form the foundation of effective communication and academic excellence. By revisiting and expanding on topics introduced in JSS1, students solidify their understanding of English grammar rules, construct meaningful sentences, and express thoughts clearly in both spoken and written forms. Essay writing tasks, ranging from narrative to descriptive and informal letter formats, help students organize ideas, apply appropriate vocabulary, and follow logical writing structures, preparing them for real-world communication and higher academic demands.

Equally important, regular comprehension activities help students develop critical thinking and effective communication. Teachers guide students to read various types of texts, expository, narrative, or descriptive, and answer questions that assess understanding beyond surface-level reading. These tasks challenge students to identify main ideas, interpret meanings, recognize tone and purpose, and form opinions based on textual evidence. By engaging in this process, students think independently, analyze information, and communicate interpretations with clarity and confidence, skills that support learning not only in English but across all subjects.

Furthermore, the scheme introduces students to Nigerian and African literature in a structured and culturally relevant format. Teachers present folktales, short stories, poems, and drama pieces that expose learners to characters, settings, and moral lessons that reflect their environment. This literary exposure strengthens reading habits and nurtures empathy, critical analysis, cultural appreciation, and creative thinking. Students begin to see how stories reflect society, challenge norms, and inspire change, while improving vocabulary and interpretive skills along the way.

In addition to academic development, the scheme of work prepares students for internal school tests and national-level assessments like the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Weekly lesson plans outline specific learning objectives that align with standardized testing formats, so students become familiar with question types, answer structures, and time management strategies needed for formal assessments. This consistent emphasis on exam readiness reduces anxiety and builds student confidence before critical testing periods.

Finally, the scheme aligns fully with the learning objectives outlined by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and is implemented through the Lagos State Unified Scheme. Through this alignment, the standardization ensures consistency in teaching across schools, enabling both public and private institutions to maintain high-quality education. As a result, teachers follow this approach to meet learning outcomes, identify and close learning gaps early, and provide all students, regardless of background, equal access to structured, effective English language instruction.

How to Use This Scheme Effectively

Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent, using the JSS2 English Studies First Term Scheme of Work effectively can make a powerful difference in how English is learned and retained during the academic year. This scheme is not just a list of weekly class topics, it’s a roadmap that supports skill-building in five key areas: speech, grammar, comprehension, composition, and literature. For JSS2 students, this is a critical stage where their foundational skills from JSS1 are reinforced and expanded. It is a period that requires deliberate planning, consistent practice, and active participation from every stakeholder involved in the learner’s journey, especially the students themselves, their teachers, and their parents or guardians.

Let’s begin with the role of the student, who is at the center of this learning process. JSS2 learners can get the most from the scheme by actively engaging with the content before it is even introduced in class. For instance, students are encouraged to preview each week’s topic a few days in advance. This can be done using textbooks, notes, or by asking older siblings or peers what the topic entails. Previewing topics helps prepare the mind for new concepts and makes classroom participation more meaningful. In addition to this, students should cultivate the habit of keeping a vocabulary journal. Each new word encountered in a passage, during storytelling sessions, or while listening to their teacher should be written down, defined, and used in a sentence. Doing this weekly boosts vocabulary retention and gives students confidence in both spoken and written communication.

Another key study habit students should adopt is weekly composition writing. Whether it’s a narrative, descriptive, or informal letter, writing regularly helps sharpen organization of ideas, use of appropriate language, and paragraph structure. Students can take real-life scenarios and turn them into essays, or even rewrite parts of the stories they read in literature. This reinforces grammar rules and fosters creative thinking. Additionally, students are advised to use reading strategies like SPQ3R, Survey, Question, Predict, Read, Recite, and Review, especially when working on comprehension passages or literature texts. This strategy helps improve understanding, especially when answering inference or tone-based comprehension questions that are common in internal school exams and external exams like BECE.

Now, let’s talk about the parents, who play a vital supporting role. Although many parents may feel they lack the expertise to help with English language homework, their involvement, even in small ways, can significantly boost a child’s motivation and performance. One of the most effective things a parent can do is to ask their child weekly what topic was covered in class. This simple question helps the student recall and reinforces the concept. Parents can also make learning fun and interactive by scheduling reading times at home. Reading together as a family, even if just once or twice a week, improves vocabulary, encourages discussion, and builds bonding. Storybooks, folktales, letters, or even newspaper articles can serve this purpose. These activities expose the child to sentence structures, new vocabulary, and reading fluency in an enjoyable setting.

Moreover, parents should support their children in writing assignments by helping them brainstorm ideas before the child starts writing. This doesn’t mean writing the essay for them but guiding them through organizing their thoughts, perhaps by suggesting what to write in the introduction, body, and conclusion. Additionally, they should encourage revision and proofreading, focusing on correcting punctuation, spelling, and sentence flow. Parents can also ensure that their children use the recommended textbooks and supplementary readers provided by the school. These materials are aligned with the curriculum and serve as essential tools in reinforcing lessons taught in school.

As for teachers, they serve as the anchor that holds everything together. The scheme gives a week-by-week breakdown of learning objectives, which makes lesson planning easier and more focused. However, effective teaching goes beyond just following the scheme. Teachers are encouraged to break each topic into skill-specific blocks: speaking, reading, writing, and literature. This approach helps maintain a balance and ensures all aspects of language learning are covered. When teaching grammar, for example, teachers can begin with short speaking activities that require students to use a tense or expression in real-life context. In composition lessons, teachers can assign essays on current school issues or students’ daily experiences to make writing relevant and engaging.

For comprehension and reading exercises, teachers should apply active reading strategies like SPQ3R and think-aloud protocols, which guide students to ask questions and predict meaning before and after reading a text. These strategies help deepen understanding and improve retention. During literature lessons, teachers should use culturally relevant texts such as Nigerian folktales, African poetry, and short plays to expose students to moral lessons and storytelling styles. Drama and role-play can also be incorporated to build confidence in speaking and promote group participation. Teachers are further advised to use teaching aids such as flashcards, audio recordings for speech work, storyboards, and even digital tools where possible. These materials enrich lessons and cater to different learning styles, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

In summary, the JSS2 First Term English Studies Scheme of Work is much more than a set of academic expectations, it is a practical guide that promotes academic growth, literacy skills, and lifelong communication abilities. It sets out weekly targets that support measurable progress in grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary development, composition, and literature. When students, teachers, and parents work together with the scheme as a shared roadmap, the results are clear: improved performance in class tests and BECE, better speaking and writing fluency, increased confidence in public speaking, and deeper appreciation of literature and culture.

Be sure to bookmark this guide, share it with your school community, and revisit it regularly. Also, stay connected as we release updates for the Second Term and Third Term Scheme of Work for English Studies. This will ensure continuous support for students and teachers throughout the academic year, aligned with the Lagos State Unified Scheme and the national NERDC standards.