Learning to spell can be difficult for anyone, but when spelling translates to understanding teachers say it becomes especially important.

"I was stressed and I thought I wouldn't make any friends," says 11 year old student Christian Ramos.

When Ramos first started attending Lincoln Elementary school in Merrillan three years ago, he spoke little English.

But since then, he's gone from being left out on the playground to quickly answering questions in the classroom.

The students at Lincoln Elementary represent just a handful of the growing number of Hispanics in U.S. public schools. According to the Pew Research Center Latinos accounted for 64% of all new students in U.S. schools during the last 10 years.

"We are seeing that trend here, absolutely," explains Lincoln Elementary principal Todd Antony.

In fact according to the state, Hispanics now make up five percent of the Alma Center-Merrillian-Humbird school district, a five fold increase in just 10 years.

"It's nothing new to our Caucasian students when the Hispanic students come in," says Terri Jurowski, the school's English as a second language teacher. Right now she works with 29 students in the district and expects 10 more next year. It's a stark contrast to the one or two students she worked with nine years ago.

"English speaking students come in with so much background experience and knowledge so it's a lot easier. These students come in and need to be taught the background," says Jurowski.

After learning the background Jurowski says the kids catch on quickly.

"As their English increases the less they want to come in here because they want to stay with their peers for the social side, but they still need the academics," Jurowski says.

But for Ramos he says learning English has given him both.

"Friends come by and I ask them sometimes what words mean and they teach me sometimes too," says Ramos.