This study explored how background factors are related to teachers' behaviors. Currently, it is unclear what variable most accurately predicts teaching behaviors; experience, general education, or specialized training. The participants in this study were 47 early childhood educators. Teachers were primarily female and all worked with children aged 3-5 years. Teachers had worked with children aged 3-5 years for an average of 7.6 years (range = 0-30 years). Many teachers had training in early childhood. Twenty-nine had majored in early childhood and 26 held early childhood certificates. Teaching actions were assessed with four observational measures via videotape. The results showed that experience was a negative predictor of sensitive behavior and that early childhood certification was a positive predictor of verbalization behaviors. (Contains 2 footnotes and 3 tables.)