What should you do after a student responds correctly to your instruction?

Reinforcing a correct response is a fundamental principle in behavior analysis and effective teaching. When a student responds correctly to your instruction, providing reinforcement serves to strengthen that behavior. Reinforcement can take many forms, such as verbal praise, tangible rewards, or additional privileges, depending on what is appropriate for the student and the learning environment.

This practice encourages the student to continue exhibiting the desired behavior in the future, as they associate the correct response with positive outcomes. By effectively employing reinforcement, you establish a supportive learning atmosphere that can enhance student engagement and motivation. This proactive approach not only builds confidence but also solidifies the skill or knowledge being taught, making it more likely that the student will recall and use that information in the future.

In contrast, the other choices fail to promote learning: ignoring the response does not provide any feedback; punishing the student may discourage participation and create anxiety; and changing the topic could confuse the student about the material that was just successfully understood. Therefore, reinforcing the correct response is the most effective strategy to promote learning and development.