A fourth-grade student is struggling to comprehend a reading assignment because of the unfamiliar word "overdue" in the text. When helping the student to decode and determine the meaning of the word, the teacher should primarily focus on which of the following?

While using a dictionary is a valuable skill, it can be overwhelming for a fourth-grade student struggling with comprehension. Focusing on guide words may not directly support understanding the specific word in context, as it requires additional skills in navigating dictionary entries that may not be immediately accessible.

Although context clues are essential for understanding unfamiliar words, this option alone may not empower the student to decode the word "overdue." Without breaking down the word itself, the student might still struggle with its structure, which limits their ability to tackle similar unfamiliar words in the future.

Guessing can lead to misunderstandings and does not promote effective learning strategies. This method does not encourage the student to engage with the word analytically or develop decoding skills, ultimately hindering their vocabulary growth and comprehension.