What does a rabbit have to do with classroom management?

A few months ago about I wrote about using Pixar's short film Lifted as a launching point for discussions about feedback to students. I'll continue this thread with Pixar's most recent short, Presto.

The first time I watched it, I laughed. It's got all the attributes of a classic comedy cartoon. The third time I watched I was reminded of many middle school classrooms that I've been in. If you've taught in middle school you've had that rabbit in your classroom. It's that students that will do anything to derail your lesson. What really got me thinking about this was that we see from the beginning that all the rabbit wants is a carrot. It's something so simple, so effortless, and yet so necessary. However, since Presto is so caught up in doing his lesson show, he can't take the time to give the rabbit a carrot. If you've seen this short you know what the consequences are.

After showing this short we discuss the root, no pun intended, of the conflict. Everyone agrees that it's all about the carrot. I then ask teachers to think of a student in their classroom right now that's as disruptive as that rabbit. After a few chuckles and whispers of names under their breath, many will agree that they currently have or have had a student in the past like that. Then I ask - what did you do to give them their carrot?