Abstract: The worldwide trend for reform in mathematics education is also happening in Singapore. Teachers are encouraged to use a variety of non-routine mathematics problems in their teaching to de-emphasize the use of routine questions that promote basic algorithmic skills. This paper presents the role of different types of mathematical problems and in particular short, open-ended questions that teachers can modify from the routine questions commonly found in textbooks. The experience of some primary teachers who have used short, open-ended problems with their pupils is shared.